I have done a couple of stories on this project, which was born from a collaboration with the last glass-blowing family left in Lebanon, the Khalifes, and waste management expert, Ziad Abichaker.

The story begins with war. Lebanon’s only green glass manufacturing plant was bombed and completely destroyed by Israel in the 2006 war here. That factory had previously used up to 50 percent of their raw material from recycled glass materials bought from their recycling network. Without that outlet, beer companies such as Almaza (who use green bottles) were forced to import bottles. Worse, 70 million green and amber bottles were ending up in the landfill every year.

Meanwhile, the Khalife family had problems of their own. Their ancient craft of glassblowing was at risk of being extinguished for good when they were struggling to meet the costs of production. Months would go by where they had no work.

All the while, Abichaker and his team at Cedar Environmental had been accruing a massive surplus of green and amber-colored bottles. Now, with the collaboration between Abichaker and the Khalifes, the discarded bottles are turned into one-of-a-kind pieces of art sold throughout Lebanon’s capital city.

Photo by Omar Alkalouti.

Here is a fun video that explains very simply and thoroughly how the process works.

The lamps and various glass pieces, from carafes to vases, are affordable and very chic. And it’s a big bonus that it is a great way to help preserve some of Lebanon’s cultural heritage while helping the environment.